A bioblitz brings together expert naturalists and taxonomic scientists to inventory as many species as possible in a particular area in a set amount of time, typically over 24 hours. The species records are compiled into a single data set of the biodiversity in that location at that point in time.

Often, the experts are joined by interested members of the general public for a community-style bioblitz, which blends scientific inventory, guided educational activities and nature programming so that everyone can contribute to real science, while connecting with nature in a personally meaningful experience.

NATURALIST HEROES

Naturalist Hero: Louise de Kiriline Lawrence (1894 - 1992)

First Canadian woman elected to the American Ornithologist's Union, an amateur contributing greatly to bird studies from Northern Ontario.

de Kiriline Lawrence,
Banding a bird. Source : The Canadian Field-Naturalist, Vol 108, No 1, 1994

She became interested in birding from her log home on Pimisi Bay near North Bay, after retiring in 1935 as a nurse - formerly to the Dionne Quintuplets. She quickly became internationally known as a writer and ornithologist.

Ornithologist, naturalist, writer.

During her life, she banded and recorded over 25,000 birds; she wrote over 500 reviews, 17 scientific papers and 5 books on birds and animals.

Her dedication and passion for nature writing and research led to such accolades as the John Burroughs Memorial Medal ( 1969) for her book The Lovely and the Wild; the Canadian Authors Association's Sir G. D. Roberts Special Award (1969}; an honorary doctorate, LLD from Laurentian University, Sudbury (1971 }; the Frances H. Kortright Outdoor Writing Award (1980}; and the Doris Huestis Speirs Award from the Society of Canadian Ornithologists. There is also a scholarship named after her at Laurentian University as well as a writers' award created by the Ontario Library Service - North.

Some of her books are The Loghouse Nest; Mar: A Glimpse into the Natural Life of a Bird; Another Winter, Another Spring; To Whom the Wilderness Speaks; and The Lovely and the Wild, which focuses on her evolution as a naturalist

"[It's in] our willingness to read the signatures of nature and our readiness to live with eyes and ears open ..."